The 2015 season of the Indian Premier League (abbreviated as IPL 8 or Pepsi IPL 2015) is the eighth season of the IPL. Kolkata Knight Riders are the defending champions having won the title in the 2014 season. The complete tournament is expected to be held across different cities in India unlike the previous season. The tournament was started on Wednesday, 8 April 2015 after the end of the 2015 Cricket World Cup. A total of 60 T20 matches will be held in the entire tournament. No matches will be held in Kolkata between April 12 and April 25 due to Municipal Elections.

Franchises retained 123 players 8th IPL season before moving into auction. The released players provided an option to register themselves for auction. 6 Players were transferred across teams before the auction took place. In the Pepsi IPL 2015 auction held on February 16 at Bangalore, Yuvraj Singh was sold to Delhi Daredevils for 16 crores INR, for a record bid in IPL auction history. A total of 67 players were sold out in the auction and all franchises spent total of 87.60 Crores to buy players.

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Wednesday, January 4, 2012

India vs Australia - 2nd test Day2 - Highlights

India vs Australia 2nd test has been embarrassing for India. Clarke and Ponting have damaged Indian bowling with questionable batting display.

Australia seems to be on top and every batsman is producing runs, in fact hundreds after the loss of the first three wickets that fell in quick succession yesterday. Ponting made a hundred after a long distance and so he proves that he is not a lost case, Clarke is nearing his double hundred and Michael Hussey seems to be well established at the crease by now.

And the Indian bowlers are being treated as school kids bowling at international stalwarts. Zaheer Khan was the only one who put some pressure by scalping three wickets in the first few overs in the beginning of Australian inning. But now he is trying everything to take more wickets. He is trying over and round the wickets so usually that it seems laughable.

Umesh Yadav who took some wickets in the first match, has been looking like a toothless tiger with no answer to the all round batting functionality of the Australian batsmen.

I am surprised how Australians are playing. They look like the same old powerful team of 90’s and 2000’s. Their bowling is best and their batting seems to have great detail. How many teams can believe of making such a great comeback after losing three wickets so early?

Ponting was very powerful throughout the inning. He was so self confident that it appeared that he had returned his run making strategy. And that was true. Ponting’s 134 runs was pleasure to watch. He is a master batsman and there is no question about it.

Australian captain and Ponting successor Michael Clarke has already completed his double century. He has scored 209 runs in just 289 balls and has hit 25 fours. His was a very powerful inning and the Australian lead over India is more than India’s total score. The lead has gone up to a healthy 215 runs and it looks that Australians are looking at a score where they may not be needed to bat again.

Australian bowlers on the other hand were very outstanding. Pattinson, Hilfenhaus and Siddle all were great during the inning. Pattisnon had taken four wickets while Hilfenhaus and Siddle shared three wickets each.

I am also very amazed as to how poorly Indian spinners have carried out in the match so far. Ashwin has failed to throw any surprises and their fat has been similar to Indian pace attack.